With hundreds of proofs, everybody can see the situation of animals in the current politico-economic system. You can easily see yourself how animals suffer and how they are cruelly treated in slaughterhouses, laboratories or on farms, that they are victims of the industry and pathology present in all industries that earn profit from their death and vulnerability. After reading these materials we can come to only one conclusion, namely that the cases of brutality are not isolated cases, but it’s the standard, indeed normality, which underlies the production of meat, milk, eggs, clothes or cosmetics.

Veg(etari)anism and activism

Fortunately, despite the vast scale of these things, there are many people sensitive to the plight of animals and they don’t remain passive in this matter. Some people give up animal products, becoming a vegetarian or vegan, others go further by becoming animal rights activists. So they get involved in defending animal rights not only in the privacy of their homes or while shopping, but also on the streets, universities, and protests during the lectures and most of all while risking their own freedom during direct actions, with the goal of releasing the imprisoned animals. There are created large, international campaigns promoting veganism, lots of teams collect evidences of bestiality, boycotting a company, lobbying new bills, get the support of celebrities. There are a multitude of large and small, legal and illegal initiatives, fighting against cruelty to animals. All this shows the great potential and creativity of the activists. However, despite the operation of such well-known organizations like PETA and radical factions of the movement such as the Animal Liberation Front – the animals still suffer, breeding industry develops, the environment is destroyed by the producers of animal products. Although ALF freed hundreds of mink, dogs, cats, monkeys, despite the fact that other organizations have led to the closure of some businesses and the arrest of their staff, the exploitation of animals is still in great condition. And there is no indication of imminent salvation for all beings, detained and murdered in tragic circumstances.

The need for politicizing the proanimal movement

Analysing this topic we can hypothesize that this situation is caused by lack of broader understanding of animal issues, the lack of deep political and economic analysis which would illustrate the reasons for this state of apathy. It seems that most organizations and activists remain focused on specific places, companies, people involved in the violation of animal rights, and those who got politicized themselves continue to remain a minority. Of course, the fight against local criminals is very reasonable and sensible. The thing is, however, that even if you shut down one farm, in its place will be another one, more privileged and protected by politicians. For example the lobbists working for firms responsible for animal cruelty pushed the law giving the possibility of treating ALF members (which operates non-violence) as terrorists. Politicians and managers put profit first and they only know the math, not ethics.

The problem is therefore not a farm, but the system that supports thousands of such farms. The problem is not a lab, but the fact that vivisection was ratified by governments. The problem is not lack of laws, but the fact that the law is written for the benefit of the corporations and big businesses. The problem is the pursuit of profit at any cost, the problem is selfishness and conformity implanted at a young age, the problem is the massive production. It all adds up to capitalism.

So after decades of boycotts and promoting vegetarian or vegan diets, the response to the slaughter of animals should be politicized proanimal movement; an active struggle against capitalism and its legacy. This obviously refers to radical changes, not another reforms or amendments to laws. It’s about changing the way of thinking and directing it to the path of self-organization, which operates on the principles of freedom and ethics. And here comes the anarchism, which is the doctrine that allows people to freely influence the reality in which they live. In practice, this means greater control over the form of economy and society. This in turn allows you to push the ethical treatment of animals or animal products progressive elimination at the discretion of local communities. Of course, it is difficult to expect that the world would be vegan. But surely anarchist traditions make it possible to make local changes, which usually is blocked by the authorities or the pursuit of profit. This dramatically increases the chance of animal liberation. Especially that anarchism rejects any power which claims the right to govern other beings, who tells us whom we have to eat, what should we believe in or how should we live. Instead there is the possibility of forming such a reality that no harm comes to other people or other beings. The reality is dependent on us. Especially considering that anarchism puts in the first place morality and responsibility, and contemporary revolutionary thought considers the issue of animals as one of the key issues. In contrast to the rhetoric of neo-liberals rejecting the ideology, and focusing solely on market mechanisms.

Not acting as any political force, but only by organizing ourselves in associations, NGOs and voluntary groups we are condemned to failure. To help the animals it is required to destroy the system that exploits them, and then build a self-organized societies, functioning on the principle of equality and ethics. The key thing is to build a political alternative in which the animals will be defined as a substance having the right to freedom, where they will not be slaves living only to continue conformist habits of people. It will not take a day and there is no guarantee it will work but at the end of day it is the only way to go.